The 2010 chemistry nobel prize: Pd(0)-catalyzed organic synthesis

Abstract

The 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists, R F Heck, E-I Negishi and A Suzuki, for their work on “Palladium — Catalyzed Cross Couplings in Organic Synthesis”. It pertains to research done over a period of four decades. The synthetic procedures embodied in their work enable construction of C-C bond selectively between complex molecules as in simple ones at desired positions without disturbing any functional groups at other parts of the reacting molecules. The work finds wide applications in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and molecules for electronics and other applications. It would not have been possible to synthesize some of the complex natural products or synthetic compounds without using these coupling reactions in one ormore steps.